Genetic diversity and verbascoside content in natural populations of Pyrostegia venusta (Ker Gawl.) Miers.

Background: Pyrostegia venusta (Ker Gawl.) Miers occurs in threatened biodiversity hotspots of Cerrado and Atlantic forest biomes in Brazil and is used in traditional medicine to treat various respiratory and skin diseases.

Methods And Results: This study (i) examined the genetic diversity and structure of six natural populations of P.

Genetic diversity among genotypes of (Aubl.) J.F. Gmel. maintained in an in vitro germplasm bank.

Unlabelled: Phytotherapeutic preparations from (Aubl.) J.F.

Aqueous extracts from Uncaria tomentosa (Willd. ex Schult.) DC. reduce bronchial hyperresponsiveness and inflammation in a murine model of asthma.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Uncaria tomentosa (Willd. Ex Schult) DC is used by indigenous tribes in the Amazonian region of Central and South America to treat inflammation, allergies and asthma. The therapeutic properties of U.